Seattle field trip chaperone was 'Washington's Most Wanted'

UPDATE: Donald Vasser turned himself in to Seattle Police tonight, according to Chad Lewis of the state Department of Corrections.

An elementary school field trip turned into a police manhunt this afternoon when a parent chaperone recognized another chaperone as a wanted felon who had been featured on a television show, according to Seattle police.

Police received a 911 call around 3:30 p.m. from someone who reported that a fellow chaperone resembled Donald Vasser, who had been featured on “Washington’s Most Wanted.” The caller said the wanted man was on the field trip with 20 Lowell Elementary School students and a handful of parents.

The school was alerted and placed under lockdown, police said.

A search by patrol officers, SWAT and a K-9 unit failed to track down the man.

There were no reports of injuries to any students or staff at the school, police said.

Police say Vasser goes by numerous aliases and has an extensive criminal record. To read more about Vasser, click here. He apparently accompanied his daughter on the field trip, police said.

Schools spokeswoman Teresa Wippel says officials are investigating how Vasser was able to get on the trip. She says that schools run background checks on chaperones.

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The Today File is a general news blog featuring real-time coverage of Seattle and the Northwest. It is reported by the news staff of The Seattle Times and includes stories from The Associated Press and McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.